Clown Fish – Program

The Belfry Theatre presents

Clown Fish

Written and performed by
Paul Tedeschini

Creative Team

TJ Dawe – Director
Paul Tedeschini – Playwright / Performer /
Sound, Music & Projection Designer
Keith Houghton – Lighting Designer

Clown Fish is approximately 70 minutes long with no intermission.

Clown Fish was initially developed through the Sunset Theatre’s Exploration Series through funding granted by the BC Arts Council’s Project Grant Program, and The Canada Council for the Arts’ Explore and Create Grant Program. 

The inaugural workshop production was part of the Sunset Theatre’s 2022 SpeakEasy Festival with the working title Tripping Across the Finish Line.

The Belfry Theatre is a member of the Professional Association of Canadian Theatres and engages professional artists who are members of the Canadian Actors’ Equity Association under the terms of the jointly negotiated Canadian Theatre Agreement.

This production of Clown Fish is generously sponsored by

SEASON SPONSORS

PUBLIC FUNDERS

From the Director

Anxiety’s a bugger. I’ve got it. Plenty of us have it. It can be strong enough to bring on panic attacks. It can fly so efficiently under the radar that we think constant dread and mean self-talk are normal.

Most of us get a free pass on our issues for a while, but eventually the bill comes due. If you’re not ready, it can wallop you.

Paul and I didn’t set out to create a show on this topic. Our curiosity had us look at a memory that called out to Paul and examine it from all angles. We found invisible threads emanating from it, and followed them. They led us somewhere very different, more interesting, more vulnerable, and here we are.

The format of this show wasn’t intentional either. Having this be a primarily auditory experience grew out of a combination of Paul’s abilities and the circumstances in which we workshopped the show. It was an accident that turned out well. I can’t take credit for it, other than to remember that Orson Welles defined a director as someone who presides over accidents.

I have many comedy records in my collection. I’ve spent many an hour laying back and letting the jokes and stories from them wash over me and into me. We invite you to experience this show in that way.

And if you’ve got anxiety, keep in mind: it’s not too late. Your issue isn’t too small or too hopeless. It’s okay to ask for help. You’re worth it.

TJ Dawe

Cast & Creative Team

Paul Tedeschini – Playwright / Performer / Music, Sound & Projection Designer

Paul Tedeschini is a sound editor, sound designer, mixing and mastering engineer, musician, actor and voice performer. Theatre credits include Home Is A Beautiful Word, Puttin’ On The Ritz, I Think I’m Fallin’: The Songs of Joni Mitchell (2017), Mom’s The Word, Vanya, Sonya, Masha and Spike (Belfry Theatre). Sweeny Todd, Red Hot Cole, Gaslight (Bluebridge Theatre). Into The Woods, Cabaret (Canadian College For The Performing Arts). Podcast credits include Underwater (Warner Brothers/ Interval Presents), Supreme (iHeart Radio), Hindsight (Al Jazeera), This Is That, Road Trip Radio (CBC), Celeste & Her Best (Luminary). Voice credits include Road Trip Radio, Mitsubishi Motors, VISA, Kelloggs, Campbells and Tim Hortons. Paul has had a variety of theatre, tv & film roles. List of credits available at imdb.com.

TJ Dawe – Director

TJ was born and raised in Vancouver and got his theatre degree from UVic. He’s been creating and touring new theatre ever since. He’s worked on monologues about motherhood, unrequited love, horrible jobs, the Enneagram, plant medicines, self-sabotage and trauma. He’s worked on stage parodies of Star Wars, Lord of the Rings, Sex and the City and Batman. His play Toothpaste and Cigars – cowritten with Mike Rinaldi – was made into the feature film The F Word, which you can find on Netflix. He’s worked on touring shows about ghosts, serial killers, love and the career of Richard Dreyfuss.

Keith Houghton – Lighting Designer

Having been the running technician for the original production of I Think I’m Fallin’ in 2016 and having worked as lighting technician with Alan Brodie for many productions in my over 20 seasons at the Belfry, I was excited to be able to work as Alan’s assistant to bring the remount back to the stage last fall. Previous lighting design credits include Hockey Mom, Hockey DadGood Timber (The Other Guys). Agnes B (Co-Design, Suddenly Dance Theatre). My Rabbi (Sum Theatre). SECRET/E (Theatre In The Way).

About the Belfry

The Belfry Theatre is on the land of the Lək̓ʷəŋən People, known today as the Esquimalt and Songhees Nations. The Lək̓ʷəŋən people have been keepers of this land for millennia and we offer our respect and gratitude for our uninvited presence on their territory.

These lands are within the disputed Douglas Treaties territories, treaties that were negotiated verbally, signed to blank pieces of paper by the Indigenous leaders and then had text added by the colonial government. The colonial perspective on the treaty is one of a sale of land, while the Indigenous perspective is a sharing of territory.

The Songhees are members of the Te’mexw Treaty Association seeking a modern treaty with the Crown on their rights, territory and self-government.

The Belfry Theatre is a registered Canadian charity, 11921 5549 RR0001.

The Belfry Theatre is a member of the Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce, Destination Greater Victoria, and the Professional Arts Alliance of Greater Victoria.

2023–24 Board of Directors
President – Alison Watt
Vice President – Gillian Wood
Secretary – Mikaila Mauro
Treasurer – Kathy Veldhoen
Past President – Richard Brownsey

Directors
Cathi Charles Wherry
Dr. Joan McArthur-Blair
Kini McDonald
Daniela Pinto
Joni Steinman
Stephen Tax

Honorary Board of Directors
Chair Emeritus – Patrick Stewart
Sherri Bird
Barbara Greeniaus
Robert Johnston Q.C.
John Keay
Joan Snowden
Dr. Brian Winsby
Michael Ziegler

Jamie Anderson – Box Office Clerk & FOH Supervisor
Castor Angus – Box Office Clerk
Kate Barry – Development Officer
Alison Bendall – FOH Supervisor & Box Office Clerk
Claire Cacheux – Box Office Clerk
Helena Descoteau – Box Office Supervisor
Mark Dusseault – Director of Marketing &Communications
Linda Findlay – Head of Wardrobe
Mike Ford – Director of Production & Operations
Ian Gibson – Audience Services Manager
Keith Houghton – Head Technician & Systems Administrator
Valerie Houle – Producer
Nora Kidston – Front of House Manager
Carole Klemm – Head Scenic Artist
Jeff Kulak – Graphic Designer
Jeremy MacLeod – Technical Director
Patricia O’Brien – Director of Finance
Peter Pokorny – Head of Props & Scenic Carpenter
Dale Pudwell – Master Carpenter
Sophia Radford – Box Office Supervisor
Michael Shamata – Artistic Director
Susan Stevenson – Director of Development
Isaac Thomas – Executive Director
Cian Waldron – Box Office Clerk
Deborah Williams – Associate Artist & Flame Facilitator
Celena Cook Custodial Celena’s Cleaning Co.

B4Play Host – Gregor Craigie
Photographers – David Cooper, Emily Cooper, Jo-Ann Richards, Peter Pokorny, and Don Craig
Belfry 101 Instructors – Dave Morris & Nicole Malcolm
Venue Technician – Hannah Abbey
Props Assistant – Jamie Anderson
Scenic Painter – Lara Shepard
Scenic Carpenter – Christian Tervo
Running Crew – Grace Carmichael
Lighting Crew – Branden Sugden, Alison Bendall
Scenic Support – India Walter & Sam Estok

Thank you to our Community Connectors: Ariel Reyes, Fiona Bramble, Katherine Ross, Nicola Watts, Debra Sheets, Tania Betiku, Thembelihle Moyo, Olvie Li, Carmen Rodriguez, Jess Barton, Cassidy Villebrun-Buracas, Alex Taylor-McCallum and Dahlila Isabelle Charlie

Smartphones, Cameras, and Recording Devices
The use of cameras, smartphones or audio/visual recording equipment is prohibited. Please turn off all personal electronic devices prior to the performance. If you need to be contacted in an emergency, please leave your name and seat number with our House Manager.

Latecomers & Re-admission
The Director of each production designates moments in the show when the seating of latecomers will cause the least distraction for actors and audience members. Should you leave the theatre, our House Manager will not be able to reseat you until one of these breaks and may not be able to return you to your original seat, but you can watch the performance on the monitor in our lobby.

Perfume and Cologne
Please refrain from using perfume and cologne when you come to the theatre. Some of our patrons are highly allergic to scents.

Food & Drinks
Only food or drinks that you purchase at the concession are permitted in the theatre.

Lost and Found
Please check with our House Manager if you have lost an item in the theatre.

Lobby Touchscreen
The TV monitor in our new lobby is a touchscreen device. By touching the screen, you can delve deeper into each production, learn about the artists who created the show, and much more.

Babes in Arms
The Belfry is proud to produce adult contemporary theatre. Most of our productions are not suitable for young children. Sorry, we do not admit babes in arms.

PRE-PERFORMANCE

B4Play
Live talk shows hosted by CBC Radio’s Gregor Craigie and featuring artists from the upcoming show, along with experts
from the community, have been designed to provide insight into each Mainstage production. Each event is held the Saturday prior to Opening, is free to attend and is also live streamed on Facebook, and available as a podcast on our website.

Podcasts
Listen and download the full interviews from each B4Play, recent stories from The Flame, our storytelling series, and more at belfry.bc.ca/podcasts.

Upstage Magazine
Our magazine provides insight into each Mainstage production, further enriching your experience. Upstage is available in the
Lobby and on our website. Drop us a line at hello@belfry.bc.ca for an advance copy.

ACCESSIBLE PERFORMANCES

Hearing Assist
For patrons who are hard of hearing, the theatre is equipped with an infra-red hearing assist system and a neck loop system. We have twelve devices of each system available through the Box Office.